We’ve always known the value of Black stars at the box office. However, the overwhelming success of “Wicked,” “Gladiator II” and “Moana 2,” is once again proving it to the rest of the world. Yes, these films are established titles that have built-in fanbases. But we saw how excited fans were to get Denzel Washington in ancient Rome. That tells us that the Oscar winner was a huge part of the film’s box office success. As we celebrate and explore how Black actors are dominating the movie business right now, we thought it was time to take a look at the highest grossing Black actors of all time, per The Numbers.
Suggested Reading
Samuel L. Jackson – $14,627,207,135
Samuel L. Jackson isn’t just the top Black actor, he’s No. 1 overall. His massive $14 billion number is driven by his multiple appearances as the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Nick Fury. And don’t forget he also co-starred in the “Star Wars” prequel trilogy as Mace Windu. Adding that to the overwhelming number of films he’s appeared in (more than 100, according to IMDB), it’s no surprise he’s No. 1.
Zoe Saldaña – $14,255,017,432
Coming in a close second is “Guardians of the Galaxy” and “Avatar” star Zoe Saldaña. She’s also the second highest-grossing woman, with her total only topped by fellow Marvel star Scarlett Johansson. Since she’s set to appear in one, maybe two, more “Avatar” films, there’s a possibility she could catch Samuel L. Jackson.
Dwayne Johnson – $10,780,722,341
One of the few non-Marvel actors on the list is Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. Though his appearances in the “Fast & Furious” franchise definitely make a big contribution to his total, his biggest movies are the “Jumanji” films and, of course, “Moana.” He’s currently making the live-action “Moana,” so this number could get another big boost.
Don Cheadle – $9,027,145,678
Obviously, Don Cheadle’s $9 billion is all about his role as the MCU’s James “Rhodey” Rhodes/War Machine. However, don’t discount how huge the “Ocean’s” trilogy is, as those films are all in the $300 and $400 million range.
Will Smith – $9,016,900,391
Before the MCU took over the business, Will Smith was one of the most bankable stars in Hollywood. From “Independence Day, “ to “Men in Black,” to “I Am Legend, “ to “Bad Boys,” he couldn’t miss. While some of his recent films haven’t the same success as his past hits, he showed he’s still a major draw with “Bad Boys: Ride or Die’s” $400 million worldwide box office.
Chadwick Boseman – $7,605,080,975
We’re pleased to see our king still maintaining a presence on this list. Before his untimely passing in 2020, he portrayed Black Panther in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, along with starring in biopics for Black history icons such as Jackie Robinson, Thurgood Marshall, and James Brown. We know it won’t last forever, but we will never pass up a chance to recognize his impact and influence on the film world.
Letitia Wright – $7,519,941,068
The “Black Panther” star is one of the few actors on this list who really had no measurable box office presence before she joined the MCU. Outside of the franchise, she’s done a few smaller dramas, but Marvel is her bread and butter. We don’t know what the future holds for Shuri, but we imagine she’ll be back in the MCU at some point and Letitia Wright will see her box office numbers continue to rise.
Danai Gurira – $6,984,745,163
Most of Danai Gurira’s pre-Marvel roles are in television, so there’s no denying that all her box office success is thanks to her performance as Okoye. But guess what, we don’t care. We’d follow our general into any battle.
Eddie Murphy – $6,750,824,376
Long before superheroes ruled Hollywood, Eddie Murphy was one of the business’ most successful stars. Popular franchises like “Beverly Hills Cop,” “Coming to America” and “The Nutty Professor” made him a box office guarantee. However, the majority of $6 billion comes from the “Shrek” movies. With word that they’re developing a fifth film, we could see Murphy add another big number to his total.
Idris Elba – $5,610,677,973
You might be wondering how Idris Elba’s total is so high when he hasn’t been in as many Marvel movies as some other actors on this list. But don’t forget, he’s also done voiceover work on Disney hits “The Jungle Book,” “Zootopia” and “Finding Dory,” as well as the video game adaptation franchise “Sonic the Hedgehog.”
Lupita Nyong’o – $5,077,685,651
In addition to her role as Nakia in the MCU, the Oscar winner also played the motion capture character Maz Kanata in the “Star Wars” sequel trilogy and did voice work in “The Jungle Book.” With all those hits on her resume, you’d think she might be a little higher on the list.
Morgan Freeman – $4,811,687,689
It’s true the a large portion of Morgan Freeman’s numbers come from “The Dark Knight” trilogy. However, he’s also found huge success narrating comedies and doing voice work in films like “The LEGO Movie.”
John Boyega – $4,774,823,242
It’s no secret that almost all of John Boyega’s total comes from “Star Wars.” Moving forward, the actor has made it clear he’s not interested in doing another film for the franchise, so we don’t know if he’ll top his current number.
Denzel Washington – $4,756,943,298
The Oscar winner is 69 years old and is still dropping box office blockbusters. “Gladiator II” currently has a worldwide total of $322,371,093. Plus, we could be getting two more “Equalizer” films and he may appear in “Black Panther 3.” The legend may be hitting his ‘70s, but he’s certainly not slowing down.
Kevin Hart – $4,705,105,452
Considering how many movies Kevin Hart makes and how popular some of them are, we expected him to be higher on this list. However, other than the “Jumanji” films and “The Secret Lives of Pets” franchise, he doesn’t have a lot of massive hits on his resume.
Keegan-Michael Key – $4,413,145,558
In case you’re wondering which of the “Key & Peele” star’s movies have made $4 billion, Keegan-Michael Key has had voiceover roles in some of the most popular films of the last few years, including “The Super Mario Bros. Movie,” “The Lion King,” “Toy Story 4” and “The LEGO Movie.”
Anthony Mackie – $4,348,609,167
We’re not going to pretend like Anthony Mackie has had huge box office success away from Marvel, but that doesn’t mean we’re not excited to see where he goes as the franchise’s new Captain America.
Straight From 
Sign up for our free daily newsletter.
